CWW RESOLUTIONS 2007 RESOLUTIONS
CWW Resolutions Page

Whereas, The Conference of Western Wayne (CWW) has been working regionally for over 25 years among our 18 municipalities in order to serve our 700,000 Western Wayne County residents and to serve our essential businesses that provide benefits throughout the state, and

Whereas, after seven straight years of state budget deficits and four years of budget cuts, we are facing yet another $3 billion shortfall in state revenue for the current and 2007-08 fiscal years; and

Whereas, funding for local governments has been cut by $2 billion the last five years resulting in a loss of over 1,600 police officers and 2,000 fire fighters statewide thereby compromising the safety of our local communities; and

Whereas, we have cut major taxes over 32 times in the past decade, our unemployment rate remains one of the highest in the country, and our auto industry continues to struggle; and

Whereas, the Single Business Tax (SBT), the primary tax paid by businesses in Michigan, will be entirely phased out by the end of the year with no replacement for the $1.2 billion in revenue generated from this tax; and

Whereas, higher education in Michigan has already been cut by $250 million which has resulted in college students and their families having to pay double digit tuition increases and a college education moving further out of reach for the state's middle class; and

Whereas, further cuts to state safety net programs for food assistance, childcare and health care will only result in a shift of demand to already overburdened county and municipal programs.

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Cities and Townships in the Conference of Western Wayne cannot sustain further cuts in essential services and that further funding cuts will result in a loss of quality of life for the citizens of our community, this state and an inability to retain and attract new business; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Michigan Legislature must demonstrate bipartisan leadership by:

• Bi-Partisan cooperation to examine, review and eliminate unfunded mandates at the local governmental level.

• Affirming their commitment to finding funding solutions to address the budget deficit in a manner that will move Michigan into a sound economic future and ensure a high quality of life for our residents.

• Bi-Partisan cooperation to examine and consider revenue sources

         A copy of this resolution be sent to our state representatives, state senators, Governor       Granholm, the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Township Association.

Motion:              Supervisor Thomas Yack, Canton

 Second:            Mayor William Wild, Westland

 Nays:               None